the best dad in the world

Pray for Dad tonight. He's on his way to Australia for a TDY and it will take him over 30 hours to get to there. He left around 2 oclock this afternoon, and won't get to Sydney until early Sunday morning. The flight from LA to Sydney is 15+ hours, which is by far the longest flight he's ever been on. He'll be there for only 3 days before he has to make the 30+ hour journey back home. So please pray for him as he travels that he will have a very smooth trip, and that the Lord will keep him safe. He's a homebody and doesn't like being away, so pray that he will be able to stay busy and that he will have an enjoyable, profitable time there. Thanks!

open up the curtain!

Last weekend was CSDC's big spring play, A Century of Broadway. It went spectacularly (is that a word?). Caleb was Yankee Doodle Dandy (and various other parts), I was none other than Glinda, from Wicked, and Beth was a tech (as always). Over the course of 3 evenings, we got a total of 586 people come see it, and 3 (count 'em, 1,2,3!) standing ovations. I'm really glad that Mom, Dad, Tim, the Russells, Krugs, and Pawpop and Grandma all got to come:)

Cast of Hair, from Hair

Cast of 76 Trombones, from The Music Man

Cast of So Long, Farewell, from The Sound of MusicCast of One, from A Chorus Line
It's not very clear, but you get the idea of what my dress was like ;)
Beth was an awesome tech as always,and sis came to help out like she does every year. (thank you!!)

Overall, it was a really great play. Now, excuse me while I go buy Nathan and Dad some really nice expensive presents for driving us to and from drama EVERY day for 2 weeks.

Dear old Alamo!
With confetti in our hair,
We remember you.

The boys and I have been practicing the art of Japanese Haiku. Because the basic concept of Haiku is easy to grasp yet difficult to master, I thought this would be good brain exercise for us. Jonathan and David would much rather spend hours writing Haiku about Werewolves and Star Wars, but I read in the paper that they are looking for entries of Haiku in honour of Fiesta. This is the boys' entry, with only a tiny bit of help from me. I guess this home- teachin' pays off every once in a while!

*So, who wants to answer w/ a Haiku of their own? Come on, YOU are not being graded!

ice ice baby

this is beth jumping out of her (and sis') 2nd story bedroom window on one of the ice days in january.

i didn't know whether to scream or laugh, so i took pictures.

she made it down to the yard (twice) without any serious injuries.

it wouldn't be that bright of me to say I had no choice

How is it that Liam looks happier being held by the uncle with the doofy expression on his face? I won't speculate any more. But maybe he just doesn't like Ninjas (or robots....oops!)

lots of chocolates for me to eat

When Papa came to visit last week, he brought a plethora of M&Ms (not pinatas, however), and the little girls were very pleased about that. Papa put the candy in little measuring cups and Carrie & Erin sat down to enjoy the bounty of sugar. These girls are pretty sure that they have the best Papa in the whole wide world.

Today it is your birthday and we sing to let you know that you will be queen for the day, whatever you say goes!

Four years ago, God was gracious to let us bring a little princess into our home full of boybarians. Dirk and I have been forever grateful for the sweetness and wonder she brings to all of our lives.
After so many boys (and a daughter in heaven) our Christian doctor knew that Abigail's name must have special significance...he asked Dirk while I was in labour why "Abigail Hope?" Dirk said emphatically: "Because we HOPE its Abigail! She was and we are so glad!
Abby wants to be a "Princess Mommy" when she grows up. I told her that she could be like me b/ I was sure that I was a Princess Mommy. She looked at me apologetically and said, "No, you're just a Plain Mommy!" Happy Birthday, Abigail Hope!

**props to anyone (except Tami!) that can tell me from whence the title comes**

Our one and only

Happy Birthday to Dok (or Sis or CJ, whatever you call her)! For 20 years she has been the light of the A team's lives. When Mom brought her home from the hospital, the three of us girls fought over her...ten months later, after a catfight about who would get to sit next to her in the car, Mom cried in frustration: "I thought you'd be tired of fighting over her by now!" We still fight over who gets to sit by her and we still Love her THAT much.

and now we have a song that we'd like to play you...

Last night, Nathan's band, Christos Soter, had a gig at the Lighthouse Cafe and it was AMAZING! So amazing, in fact, that a well-known pro-wrestler, Shawn Michaels, attended for a little while. They had a really good performance. Here are some pics from it!

Nathan Warren - lead vocals, guitars

Daniel Mitchell - lead guitars, vocals

Steven Navarro - guitars, keys

Luke Mitchell - drums, percussion

Brandon Huber - bass

The one and only Shawn Michaels, listening to Christos Soter play. Sorry I couldn't get a better picture of him.

All in all, they had a great show and the people who worked at the cafe said that it had NEVER been so packed!

I love my Granny, oh yes I do!

Granny & Papa gave Abby her "vewwy favit" Christmas present...a little princess-sized baking set! She and I had lots of yummy fun making banana muffins and little cakes. The boys ate everything and approved. Abby called Granny to thank her and sent her these pics.

Do you really want to make me cry?

This is Bethany's fault. She is now my farthest sister.

if i could reach the stars, i'd give them all to you...

...and you'd love me, love me like you used to do.





the sides of nathan you wish you'd never seen....

sis has a new blog

cj is sorry she deleted her blog. but here's her new one!

here it is, check it out.

I wanna be your three-ring circus

Liam thinks that its everyone's job to talk to him, coo at him, make him smile, and generally entertain him at any and every moment. He is very ready to respond with a smile and some cooing of his own. We're loving the sound of his sweet voice and watching his face light up with big grins when he sees or hears us. And its hard to believe the little man is 8 weeks already. Aubrey would probably inform me that it is no longer appropriate to refer to him as "newborn", but since I have heard Annie refer to Erin as a "newborn with 20 months experience", I think I'll wait to promote Liam to boring old baby status.

we're the very best at being bad

shake your head and wonder when its all too good to be true...

Isn't this the cutest almost-20-month-old in Virginia (qualifiers added to avoid obvious jealousy issues with older sisters)? She wasn't really posing, just being lazy and watching her show but I thought I'd snap a few pics while she wasn't paying attention. This little girl is the light of our lives!

I find my brother in here, deep in my heart

Molly asks all the time to hold Liam, and he usually does pretty well with her. She's a big helper and I don't know what I'd do without her! Liam hates the swing and car seat, thinking that he needs human contact at all times, and not realizing that Mommy has things to do that do not allow Liam cuddling at the same time. This is where Molly comes in really handy! As long as the baby isn't hungry, he's perfectly happy to have cuddle time with anyone. Well....I'm not sure he'd appreciate cuddle time with Carrie, but that's another story.

Pass the analytical knife

It was wonderful to go and surprise Kristen! Liam was surprised, too. Dad and I had fun deciding how to shock her. He had me call Kristen on my cell phone from her front step. I talked to her and then Dad opened the door. She said, "hold on a sec", said hello to Dad, and I popped out from behind him. She shrieked and kept saying stuff like "why are you here?" Poor Liam got shook a bit but did not get dropped. He is such a sweet little peanut. I decided to call him Cinco. It suits him.
The visit was of course too short...next thing you know the four of us sisters are crying together to say goodbye. God did not mean for sisters to have to be apart, it must have been a mix-up in the Sovreignty area, right? Then, Dok and I got in soon-to-be Nathan's little pick-up for the LONG drive home.

Random thoughts from 30hrs in a pickup w/ Dok.

I need coffee. She needs cocoa.
If we were to ever tell you we dont snack on roadtrips, that would be a heap-big lie.
Sis likes to buy donuts but not necessarily eat them.
She should have been born a bird. She needs feathers all around her.
I have a new appreciation for Daniel Powter, is that how you spell his name, Sis?
Mraz is still the man as far as this road-tripper is concerned. What would we do w/out him?
Derek Webb married well.
We hate semis b/ they first hated us.
There is nothing to see in Arkansas.
The Mississippi is glorious.
I love the great wide open of Texas just as much as the treed mountains in the east, Sis is not so convinced.
I think a good way to annoy Sis (and keep her awake) is to sing 80s songs really loud, not that I tried that or anything.
We are desperately missing our Virginia sisters.
You cant see to drive if you are crying about missing your Virginia sisters.
Cracker Barrel helps all things seem a little better.
Im sure Sis will have to add some to this.
She's the best. Id ride another 30hrs w/ her any day, BUT not in Nathan's truck.

I will be right here waiting for you

This is when Liam first met his Papa. It was a sweet moment. What a blessing to have him come visit while Liam was still small, and we hope he'll be back again soon.

and she will be loved

The Slaughter 5 were very sad to see Granny leave VA. Well, Liam might not have been sad, but he would if he knew about anything yet :-) The kids loved having Granny here and all the extra attention. Kristen and Dave were thankful for her being here for the labor/delivery. She was also great at helping get school going again and her math tricks for Molly are already coming in handy! We miss you already Granny/Mom and look forward to your next visit, whenever that will be! Soon we'll have a picture with the kids and their Papa who will come see them next week.